Three-way split switch.



No. 767,740. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

' T. DEAN.

THREE WAY SPLIT SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, 1904. N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

THREE-WAY SPLIT SWITCH.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,740, dated August 16, 1904,

\ Application filed June 6, 1904. Serial No. 211,290. \No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THoMAs DEAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Three-VVay Split Switches; andl do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to mechanism that is particularly adapted for operating railway three-throw split switches; and it has for its object to provide an apparatus of this class that is simple and durable in its construction, positive in its operation, and readily adjustable to throw the switch-points in the desired direction. 7

The invention is fully described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a cross-section of my improved switch-stand as it appears associated with a track. Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof showing another position of the operating mechanism. Fig. 3'is a perspective View of the mechanism comprising my invention, and Fig. 4 is a similar view of the operating cams and shaft.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the base or platform of a switch-stand of any desired shape or size, 2 a toothed segment thereof on which the controlling-lever operates, and 3 suitable uprights for supporting said segment above said base. Mounted in a circular opening (not shown) provided in the upper horizontal portion 1 of the stand-base 1 is a rotatable table 4, which has the segments 5 and 6 formed in corresponding positions on the upper and lower surfaces thereof. These segments are provided with a peripherallyprojecting cam-finger 5 and 6, respectively, which are formed in reverse positions on opposite sides of said segments, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. A vertical shaft 8 is suitably mounted in the switch-stand and has its lower end keyed to the table 4 and segments 5 and 6 and its upper end provided with the usual operating-lever 9, which latter is pivotally mounted in a bracket 10, keyed to the end of said shaft, and is adapted to lock the operative parts against movement by engaging the teeth of the segment 2, as shown, Secured to a pivot 11 on either side of the base portion 1 are the levers 12 and 13, which have their inner ends provided with the forks 12 and 13, respectively, for engaging the opposite sides of the segments 5 and 6 and their outer ends pivotally attached to the rail-rods 14, which connect said levers with the switchpoints 15 15 and 16 16, respectively. It will thus be seen that when the switch is set for a straightway track the operating-lever 9 will be in engagement with the center tooth of the segment 2, and the segment-blocks 5 and 6 and levers 12 and 13 will be in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Should it be desired to switch a train to the right, the lever 9 is turned in the opposite direction, thereby causing the cam 6 on the segment 6 to have contact with the left arm of the upperlever 13 and throw the outer end of said lever and the connected switch-points 16 16 to the left, as shown in Fig. 3. If it is desired to switch a train in the opposite direction, the movement of the lever 9 is reversed, thus causing the cam 5 on'the segment 5 to engage one of the arms of the lever 12 and throw the associated switch-points 15 15 to the right.

An important feature of my invention is the locking of the switch-points against movement, except by the manipulation of the leverhandle 9, inasmuch as it isimpossible to move 7 the levers 12 and 13 except by the turning of the segments 5 and 6.

While I have shown the cam-segments 5 and 6 as being secured to and turnable with the table 4, it is apparent that said tablemay be formed integral with the base portion 1 and the said segments alone be keyed to and turnable with the shaft 8 on opposite sides of the portion 1.

It is also obvious that such changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction of the parts as fairly fall within the scope of my invention may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a switch-stand of the class described, a pair of rotatably-moun ted cam members, independently-movable levers,eaeh having one end forked for engaging said members and connected at the other end with switch-points, and means for turning said members for performing the described purpose.

2. In aswitch-stand, a frame, a shaft mounted in said frame, a pair of cam members keyed to said shaft, a pair of levers mounted in said frame in an intersecting plane with said shaft and each having a forked end within which one of said cam members is adapted to rotate, connection between said levers and the switchpoints to be turned, and means for turning said shaft for the described purpose.

3. In a switch-stand, a shaft, a pair of segments keyed to said shaft and having cam-fingers projecting in reverse positions therefrom, a lever associated with each of said segments and having one end forked for engagement with opposite sides thereof, only one of said levers being adapted to move at a time when said segments are turned, and means for turning said segments.

4:. Aswitch-operatingmechanism, comprising a pair of independently-oscillating levers, each having one end forked and the other end in connection with the proper rails of a track,

a shaft, members carried by said shaft adapted to engage the forked ends of said levers and when moved in reverse directions to cause a movement of one or the other of said levers, and means for turning said shaft as required.

5. A switch-operating mechanism, comprising a pair of independently-movable levers, each having a forked end and an end in connection with different rails of a track, a shaft disposed between the forks of said levers, cam members keyed to said shaft in a plane with and engaging the forks of said levers and adapted when in one position to lock said levers against movement and when turned in reverse directions to cause an oscillation of one or the other of said levers for the purpose described, and means for rotating said shaft.

6. In a switch-operating mechanism,a stand, a pair of oscillatory levers pivoted to said stand and having connection with the rails of a track, a shaft mounted in said stand in an intersecting plane with said levers, means carried by said shaft in engaging position with one end of said levers and adapted when turned in one direction to cause an oscillation of one of said levers and when turned in the reverse direction to cause an oscillation of the other of said levers, and means for turning said shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS DEAN.

WVitnesses:

WVILBER A. OWEN, CORNELL SCHREIBER. 

